You’d probably think that you don’t need a smart luggage in your life, but if you’re air traveling for even at least once or twice a year, you’d wish you should have bought one earlier.

See, smart luggage isn’t just for the tech-savvy traveler. They were made to solve actual travel problems, especially for people with travel anxieties. Here’s a rundown of the practical uses of a smart luggage.

Solid security

Smart luggage are loyal to their owners. Some suitcases like the Planet Traveler Tech Case sports biometric locks that can only be opened with your fingerprint. They’re also traceable, equipped with GPS trackers so you can check the location of your luggage via your smartphone.

Extra charging juice

If you’re traveling for long hours, chances are, your electronics devices will be drained. Smart luggage packs you an extra charge so you can conveniently recharge your gadgets anytime, anywhere. Aside from the external USB port that you can easily access on the go, the Bluesmart Luggage have dedicated compartments for your laptops and tablets.

Smart mobility

You’d be surprised how some of the smart luggages can follow you around so you don’t even have to pull them around. The Travelmate Robot case is equipped with sensors so it can follow you around and avoid obstacles along the way.

This is handy, especially if you travel with kids and need to work with all the hands that you have.

These are just the top perks of having a smart luggage. Currently, there are lots of smart luggage with their own unique features that might help you overcome your own travel problem.

I’ve nursed a cough for nearly a month when the year has started. I had worst days, but coughing and sneezing are affecting my productivity. It’s also kind of embarrassing when you can’t stop coughing when you’re in public.

So, for you guys to dodge the flu, you can get help from technology. We use technology mostly for entertainment and work. We better use it for our health watch too. Here are ways on how to do that.

Do preventive precautions

As they old healthy saying goes, “Prevention is always better than cure.” For us to avoid flu and stay healthy, we should always be hydrated, get the right amount of sleep and if needed, check on our vital signs. There are gadgets that can help track these like Thermos smart water bottles, Sense sleep monitor, and Withings blood pressure monitor.

Alleviate body pains

Sometimes, body pains come with the flu. Or sometimes, people tend to overlook the chronic pain that they’re feeling because it’s always there and they’ve learned to deal with it. The Quell Pain Relief is a wearable that serves as a revolutionary solution for this. Quell comes with a companion app that lets users set the pressure so pain on certain parts of your body can be minimized.

Monitor body temperature closely

If flu has finally kicked in, what you can do aside from going to the doctor and take the recommended medications, is to monitor your temperature closely. If you have smart thermometers from Kinsa or Withings, you can track your temperature simpler and keep graphs of your readings so you will know if you are getting better or not.

That’s how technology can help us live better. Keeping these smart health products in your home lets you kick flu and sickness in the butt. If you want to take a closer look at these products, you can read our guide on beating the flu season with smart gadgets.

Not all people who want to start making their houses smart remember to include their garage. But you, you’re smart to know that your garage is one of the weakest spots in your home. Your garage door is probably the most-used door to your house. It’s just fitting to secure it too, along with your front door.

So, let’s start? Here are the recommended gadgets that you should have when making your garage smart.

Garage Door Controllers

This is the obvious must-have. Garage door controllers like the Chamberlain MyQ System let you control and monitor your garage door from your smartphone. It’s pretty nifty, especially if you’re the type who always seem to forget whether you have left your garage door open or not. You don’t need to drive all the way back home, just take your phone out and check.

Automated Lighting Systems

Your garage door may automatically open up and let you in when you arrive, but how can you park safely when it’s dark in there? Make sure you follow up by installing smart lighting fixtures in your garage. The popular choice is always Philips Hue bulbs; they’re super powerful too. But, there are cheaper alternatives which function just fine like the Ashia Light which is equipped with motion sensors.

Smart Tools

Your garage is also the home of your big tools, right? If you want to multitask and avoid wasting time by looking for a misplaced tool, you can invest in smart tools like Black and Decker’s drill. You can use your phone to locate it, lock or unlock it, and operate it. It even has a port which can charge up your phone.

These are just a few of the recommended gadgets that we think are worthy to sit in your smart garage. We actually have a lot more. Check them out below.

If you think you’d rather water your plant the old school way than waste money, bandwidth allocation, and time in setting one up, wait. Smart sprinklers can be totally convenient and heaven-sent for the right people. Here are the reasons why.

They’re really good for the environment.

If you live in California or somewhere else where drought’s a serious porblem, you may be very water-conscious. Having a smart sprinkler can help as they manage your water usage. They’re usually connected to the Internet and they keep tabs on the weather. When it’s going to rain, there’s no sprinkling for that day. Most smart sprinklers claim that they can save up to 50% of outdoor water usage.

They can help plant-loving people who don’t have the green thumb.

Oh, this is my tribe. I love plants, but sometimes they just die on me. With a smart sprinkler like Parrot Smart, I am certain I can be a good plant mom. Parrot Smart monitors the amount of sun your plant receives, the fertizlier in the soil, and even your plant’s temperature. You can check the app for coaching and some tips. There are also simpler sensors like PlantLink which alerts you whenever your plant needs some watering.

They’re really helpful, especially for travelers.

If you travel all the time and you always come home to a dying or dead plant, you can turn to GreenIQ’s Irrigation Controller, Rachio, RainMachine or Blossom. These are some of the most complete smart sprinkler systems which can follow a watering schedule, rely on weather forecasts, and can be remotely monitored and adjusted through an app. Most of these sprinklers let you divide your yard into sections if you have various plants with different water requirements.

Smart sprinklers were not made just because. They actually do have a purpose. Yes, they are the “I never knew I need you until I met you” kind of tech.

If you’re a tech geek, you must have had your favorite new gadgets from CES 2017. I also have mine and those weird, but really cool gadgets always get stuck in my head.

We are not new to these types of innovation. In fact, we’re used to it and even excited about this type because they’re unique, funny, and practical, in some cases. Here’s a roundup of my favorite types.

For the kitchen

We’ll start with everyone’s favorite part of the house, the kitchen. You can find a lot of gadgets that will help you cook, keep your food fresh, and your kitchen clean. Did you know that there’s a robot that can cook up to 2,000 dishes? There’s even an advanced wine storage which keeps your wine fresh for 30 days (no need to cork, uncork).

For hobbyists

Whether you love golf or b-ball or fishing, most likely, there’s a wearable or gadget for that. If you like fishing, there’s this little ball that you can throw into the water and you can use the app to view a 3D real-time image of what’s under your boat. It’s pretty nifty, but wouldn’t it be creepy if you see a moving creature that you don’t recognize? Also, there’s Vinci, the headphones with AI that can record your jam if you’re into singing. Yes, she’s smart like Alexa.

For healthcare

The tech healthcare industry is rising and along with it comes wearables which can zap you out of your bad habit. It has something to do with your brain making you more aware that you’re doing it. And then there’s this wearable which tracks your menstrual flow. No, you don’t have to put a wire or an electronic down there. You just have to use special tampons which you need to connect to a wearable.

Mind blown? If you want to know more about these gadgets, you can check them out below.

You may think that a smart video doorbell is a little too much, but nah it’s exactly what modern families need right now. With home invasion arising, you can stay safe and avoid one with a smart video doorbell. Here’s how it can help you and your family.

It gives you security and convenience

The primary purpose of video doorbells is to keep you safe by knowing who is at the door. Smart doorbells can do this with matching convenience. You can see and talk to your visitor on your smartphone when you’re too lazy (or scared) to go to the door. You can do the same thing even if you’re in the office or out on a vacation too.

Don’t worry, most smart doorbells only have a one-way camera so you can keep your privacy and you don’t give away your location. Other doorbells like the Ring Pro has motion sensors, which when trigerred can capture video in HD.

It makes a great tandem with other smart home devices

This is probably one of the best things about smart video doorbells. They can communicate to your other smart security devices to reinforce home security. Our classic example is the August Doorlock and Video Doorbell. You can open the door for your visitor right on your smartphone when you need to.

Another combo is the smart video doorbell with the front porch light. You can program your doorbell with motion sensor and your smart light through IFTTT or you can get the Zmodo Torch Pro, which is a smart video doorbell and a porch light in one.

It lessens the chances of package theft

Package theft is becoming a major concern for most homeowners, especially during the Holiday season when the gift delivery volume is quite high. With a smart video doorbell that can work with your doorlock (like August), you can keep your packages secure by asking the delivery guy to leave the package inside your house instead of just leaving it at your door.

Saying goodbye to a year that was and embracing a new one for all its new potential calls for a grand celebration. It’s a milestone that almost everyone on earth is looking forward to.

When the alcohol starts to flow and with everybody going crazy, it’s highly likely that give in to the moment and end up tending a hangover and finding lost keys on January first.

Smart tech is here to help you prep up so you’ll have a fun New Year’s Eve and an easy, carefree morning after.

Fancy up the mood

People usually start with low energy during parties, but you can ease everyone in (especially if friends of friends are coming along and not everybody know each other) by setting up the mood first. Dim the lights and let your Philips Hue do its thing: popping colors of fun everywhere! And don’t forget to fill the room with music. There are fancy speakers which can double as conversation starters like the Crazybaby Levitating Speaker and the Yantouch Diamond Speaker and Light.

Break the ice

In breaking the ice, there’s nothing more effective than alcohol. It loosens up even the most uptight person in the room. Nope, you don’t need to hire a bartender this time. He needs to party too. Quickly chill a bottle of wine that you have just bought the last minute with Waring Wine Chiller. Or get the Somabar or the Smart Bartending to mix your favorite cocktails the whole night through.

Keep memories

There’s nothing more disappointing than realizing you have no memory or battery when taking the most important pictutes. Make sure this doesn’t happen again by having a full-charged power bank with you. And in case your friends forget to charge theirs, be safe and bring the Juno Powerbank with 13,000mAh. It’s powerful enough to charge a couple of smartphones a couple of times.

And for the perfect New Year’s Eve selfie even in low light, get your selfie lights ready! You can go for the Cynux spotlight that’s clippable on your smartphone or the light stick that can cover more area for a groufie.

Keep safe

Don’t drink and drive. A car crash or being temporarily detained isn’t exactly a great start for the year. So, bring a portable breath analyzer with you. Check on yourself and your friends too. Wait until you’re sober before you hit the road.

Have a breezy morning

All the late-night partying might give you temporary memory loss. You might find yourself tensed the moment you wake up because you can’t find your car keys or your wallet or whatever. Attach a Tile on your valuables so you’ll know where they are when you can’t seem to find them.
And, of course, help yourself to a cup of coffee the moment you wakeup. Make your smart coffee maker brew a cup or carafe. Waking up to the smell of coffee will be the perfect way to start the first day of the new year.

Nope, I am not talking about invasive technology. What I’m referring to are easy tech gadgets that can help you look beautiful, especially if you’re super busy. According to a Yahoo study, the average woman spends about 22.5 minutes getting ready each morning. And that’s not the case every day; it’s longer if you made an eyeliner stroke mistake.

If you can relate to the morning hustle and want to cut down time in grooming or just want to feel more beautiful (and healthier), you definitely need to check out these beauty tech products.

Smart Mirrors

You don’t want to look like somebody slapped your face the moment you walk out of your home. Or maybe look too pale during your evening party. Simulate different lighting conditions with a smart mirror like the vanity TV mirror from Séura or Simplehuman sensor mirrors which you can order from Amazon. This way, you can put on the right amount of makeup and don’t embarrass yourself.

Personal Hygiene Tech

Our hair is one of the reasons why it takes us a long time to get ready in the morning. There are excellent hair dryers like the Chi Air Vibe, which cuts hair drying time in half. They look stylish too. As for brushing your teeth, better invest in electric toothbrush like the one from Oral-B’s 7000 Smart Series. You can still do light things like checking the weather or your flight details during the 2-minute brushing time.

Well-being wearables

Lastly, there are well-being wearables which make us feel good, translating the inner glow to radiating beauty. Strengthen your sleep with the Sleep pill and wake up to a happy mood. It’s also amazing how a simple change in posture can make appear more confident, while easing back pains. The Upright posture wearable vibrates whenever it detects you slouching your back.

There you go, ladies. Looking and feeling good — that’s our duty to ourselves. Gift yourself with one of these.

OhGizmo! is a frequently updated blog that focuses on covering items that will appeal to a very specific and often very passionate audience: the geek. Aside from the fare of innovative consumer electronic products, the reader can expect to find news about geek culture, absurd inventions, awe inspiring technology, and an ever growing assortment of articles that we like to think fit within our view of what we’re calling the Geek Lifestyle.